Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-23
STILL A MYSTERY.
The Dementad Woman at the Aims House
Not Yet Identified.


r
farm continues to be as much of a mystery
as ever. A Journal reporter visited the poor
farm Yesterday to see if anything new could
be discovered concerning her He found that
the girl had been growing worse very rapidly
since her arrival there. She talks very inco-
hereLtiy but invariably tells the same story.
She has occasionally flashes of reason and
will talk quite nationally for a time but APP
pears unable to remember names either of
persons or places. She talks of Calais, East
port and Bar Harbor; she also speaks of DR..
jenkins and Dr. Black. These are said to
be the names of two physicians at Shallow
town, Prince Edwards Island. There is said
to be an insane asylum at this place and it is
thought that she may possibly have been
former inmate of it. The girl also speaks of
DIR. Lincoln, but cannot think where she
lives. In referring to Calais, she speaks
of coming through the toll bridge. She says
that she worked at the sea shore, part of the
time in the laundry and part of the time as a
waiter girl. Her hands look as if her state
ment concerning laundry work was correct.
The Journal man found her standing at the
head of the bed in her room with a large
stick in her hand "Hush," she said, as the
matron opened tine door, you'll wake my
father and he's very sick, oh, how the devils
are tormenting him." she added, smoothing
the pillow. After some persuasion and
promise that one of The girls should take care
of her father, she came down into the sitting
room.
She was dressed the same as when
she come to the city. She has a thick black
jersey waist secured at the neck with large
bosom pin on which are blue flowers. Her
skirt is black cashmere plated at the bottom.
When she came to the city she wore a hat
trimmed with black. She is apparently about
thirty years of age, is light complexioned,
and has dark hazel eyes. She is of
medium height and is quite stout. Her
hair is sandy almost auburn in hue. 1t
10 combed back from her forehead and
secured behind in pug
I She states that after leaving the sea shore
she went to private house to board That
while she had been at work she received four
dollars and half week, and at this "large
house" she paid three dollar week for board.
These people told her that if she would go
to Augusta and apply at the Asylum they
would cure her headache and that they would
take care of her trunk. She is unable to
remember from what direction she came or
II. - 81. =.
neat and appears to know how to do well
various kinds OF work. She says her fathers
name WAS " lillian Rich. and that he and her
mother are both dead. That she had an uncle
whose pame WAS Judson Rich, and that he
was minister, but tina, he is dead. Says she
was married and had two children, but they
and her husband are dead. She says
says her husband was native of London,
England, and that she had travelled with him
in Pennsylvania and other States. She sbso-
lutely refuses to tell what his business was.
"What was your husbands name Lizzie?"
asked the matron.
"Walter Franklin. de wa, an awful
dude"
"Do you carry cane?" she asked turning
to the reporter.
"No."
"Well you're not dude then didn't
like to have him stick cigar in his mouth
and go round with his hat on the back of
his head and cane in his
hand. He was altogether too much of dude
for me-
"You did not like him them"
"He was Mica enough if he hadn't beer a
dude He was an Englishman and never
saw an Englishmau who wasn't afraid of
soiling his hands if he did any work. Oh,
l can't bear dude!"
"Where is your husband now, Lizzie?"
"Ie's either in heaven or hell | don't
know which. He's dead. Sometimes
thought he was mighty wicked, and
then again l thought he did very well
He went too much in dudes company"
There was q wild look in the woman's eye,
and if she continues to grow worse she will
probably become violent
"Why do you have those there forr" she
asked, pointing to pair of scissors.
ITO use. Why2"
"Oh. the devil might come to you, and you
might do something terrible.
''As the the woman was getting restless,
she was carried back to her room. Il seems
that this mystery in our midst calls for the
closest investigation. 1t is not improbable
that behind the life of this unfortunate woman
are matters to be dealt with by the law. Who
ever purchased = ticket, and sent tais Insane
womsn forth into the world should be dis
covered, for his discovery will undoubtedly
result in further, and poss ibiy more startling
developments.
Democratic Orthogrnphy.